2025 Watch List -Small Forwards Playing BIG

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Turning it up is what these players have done, some just by adding more to their games and one, in particular, making a ferocious comeback after an injury so here are some names you need to know about </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["331941"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Anderson was already showing me what was coming yet at the u003ca href=u0022https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/10/pgh-top-250-showcase-review-teams-3-4/u0022u003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003ePGH Top 250 Expo,u003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e I could see not only her progression but her u003cstrongu003eDESIREu003c/strongu003e to get better. Her versatility is a big plus as she handles the ball in transition and even showed she could go coast to coast and score yet her deceptive first step in the set is very nice and it helps her to not only get to the basket but score after contact. Her defense, in and outside the paint is solid, so is her midrange jumper","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["825294"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"McLaurin has taken her game to another level and her Peggy Whitley Classic performance spoke volumes. She has the potential to make a huge debut in the rankings and her explosiveness off the dribble along with finishing strongly are part of the reason, yet her rebounding and defense is another part. I guess being long and athletic helps also","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["825282"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Nixon grabbed my attention a few seasons ago, yeah I love her progression but she is silently filling up the stat sheet which falls into the “getting hers in the flow” group so as I've been keeping up with her flirting with double-doubles this season, I'll have both eyes wide open Thursday at the Sandra Meadows Classic","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["819967"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Reid was one of the u003ca href=u0022https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/11/new-faces-from-texas-ladies-jamboree-pt-1/u0022u003eu003cemu003eu003cstrongu003eNew Faces I caught at the Texas Jamboreeu003c/strongu003e u003c/emu003eu003c/au003eand I read her game off the top, with no unwarranted assistance so standing at u0022the magic numberu0022 which is 6'0 and being u0022long and athleticu0022 are a couple of things next level coaches look for so when you factor in she plays the passing lane, rebounds on both ends and defends u0022on the ballu0022 as well as inside the paint, what else is there? She thinks the game and when you have good BB-IQ, that's huge so her court vision in the set as well as in transition was nice, plus she showed she could scorernu003ch1 class=u0022mt-2 mb-4 block text-xl leading-8 font-extrabold tracking-tight text-gray-900 sm:text-3xlu0022u003eu003c/h1u003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["825274"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Russell closed it at u003ca href=u0022https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/11/first-look-at-duncanville-theopening/u0022u003eu003cemu003eu003cstrongu003eThe Openingu003c/strongu003eu003c/emu003eu003c/au003e and after watching her performance at the Sandra Meadows Classic last season, I knew she was on the verge of something big.  She's a cross between a small forward and a power forward but whatever position she's placed in, she gets the job done because of her u0022you won't outwork meu0022 mindset. She BATTLES for rebounds, #THROWBACK, as well as loose balls yet she also scored powerfully inside the paint. Her interior defense is also solid, I'll check her out this week at, you guessed it, the u003ca href=u0022https://girlzprepreport.com/upcomingevents/u0022u003eu003cemu003eu003cstrongu003e2023 Sandra Meadows Classic u003c/strongu003eu003c/emu003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["819964"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Smith continues to showing what a factor she is, both with her club team as well as her talented school squad. One more time, she's long and athletic and very active defensively and when you're able to regroup like she does, that's huge. She has good timing, she rebounds on both ends, she scores off the dribble and around the basket and she plays the passing lane","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["827553"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"E Riley Hairston should have been on that initial Watchlist for her class yet minor injuries had me missing her game. One thing I love about her game is her perseverance and she could have easily settled after a knee injury but guess what, that was not happening and as she showed signs of returning to form over the club season with her club team, her Peggy Whitley Classic sealed it as the jumper was clicking, so was her first step to get to the basket and score. She elevates over defenders to score around the basket, I guess being long and athletic is part of it","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658ad0e6d8c73"} /-->